Police have launched a murder investigation after a woman's body was found in a property which had been fire-damaged.

Fire services discovered the body while they were putting out the blaze inside a house in Birtley, Gateshead at around 12.05am on Thursday.

A 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder while evidence is still being collected from the scene of the house, believed to be worth around £250,000.

The fire was spotted coming out of the four-bed, three-storey house in the early hours of this morning, and is believed to have belonged to a middle-aged couple.

Detective Inspector Paul Waugh from Northumbria Police, who is leading on the investigation, said: 'Since the incident last night we have established a cordon and carried out a number of house to house enquiries.

Police on the scene at Robsons Way, in Birtley, Gateshead this afternoon

'There will be further police activity in the area today and extra officers in the area to offer reassurance to anyone with concerns.

'If anyone did see anything suspicious last night, or has information that may be useful to police, please get in touch.'

A spokesman for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said the loft had been severely damaged and there had also been further damage to the second floor bedroom from the collapsed loft.

They added: 'Whilst in the process of extinguishing the fire, our crews, tragically, discovered a body within the property.'

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Nicholas Kilty, 18, a neighbour, said: 'I saw a man leave the property, my mum asked him if he had phoned the ambulance service and he said he had.

'It sounded like he was panicking, it seemed like he was the only one that came out.

'It was around midnight, I could hear crackling there was a lot of smoke.'

The student added: 'We could see it all the way from up here, you couldn't see through the trees.

'I thought the roof was going to explode, it was that bad.

Fire services discovered the body while they were putting out the blaze inside a house in Birtley, Gateshead at around 12.05am on Thursday

A spokesman for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said the loft had been severely damaged and there had also been further damage to the second floor bedroom from the collapsed loft

'You could see the smoke coming from the top of the property, it looked like it was in the roof.'

Another neighbour said: 'They seemed quiet, we never had any troubles with them.

'I know people have had some issues with them but we haven't. It is a family area. You don't know who's living next door.'

TWFRS Group Manager of service delivery, Peter Iveson added: 'This was a difficult and challenging fire and all credit must go to the crews for their swift arrival and in getting the fire under control and extinguished so that it did not spread throughout the property.

'Very sadly, a body was discovered and our sympathies go out to family and friends at this difficult time.

'We would urge anyone who has information to contact Northumbria Police on 101.'

A 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder while evidence is still being collected from the scene of the house, believed to be worth around £250,000